BA celebrates 100 years with its reputation on the line UK flag carrier’s standing has fallen with passengers after cost cuts and mistakes Alex Cruz, BA's chief executive © FT montage; Bloomberg Share on Twitter (opens new window) Share on Facebook (opens new window) Share on LinkedIn (opens new window) Save Save to myFT Josh Spero, Transport Correspondent FEBRUARY 22, 2019 Print this page129 British Airways celebrates its centenary this year. But the glory days of the 1980s when it dubbed itself “the world’s favourite airline” have receded into history and its reputation is no longer flying high. Even the airline’s chief executive has no illusions about the company after 20 years of cuts and sporadic debacles, including a worldwide IT failure that grounded flights and an enormous data breach that affected nearly 400,000 customers. “There’s a lot of people . . . who have become disenchanted,” said the airline’s boss Alex Cruz, who took over as chief executive in April 2016. But over breakfast at the Langham hotel in central London, he is carefully optimistic. “Ever so slowly, we’re moving in the right direction, finally,” he said, as a £6.5bn investment programme, which includes new planes, lounges and seats with direct aisle access in its long-haul business class, bears fruit. “We understand what the past has been, we understand the net effect of really bad events like the power disruption or the hack attack . . . but this is not stopping us from continuing this investment programme.” It is not just the big disasters of last year’s hacking scandal or the worldwide computer failure of 2017 that have undermined the airline’s reputation. Ageing aircraft, the end of complimentary meals on some short-haul flights, the packing-in of seats in its long-haul business class and even the removal of fresh flowers from the bathrooms of first class, a decision that has since been reversed, have hit the airline’s standing. Some of BA’s leading former executives, including Sir Rod Eddington, who ran the airline between 2000 and 2005, and ex-head of public affairs David Burnside, have echoed Mr Cruz’s concerns over the company’s decline in the eyes of its passengers in interviews with the Financial Times. Sir Rod, who now lives in Australia, said he has “always resisted the temptation to pass judgment on what’s happened since I left, since I’m so far away”. But he does note that BA “has slipped quite substantially down the rankings” of top global airlines as it has been overtaken by carriers such as Middle Eastern groups Emirates, Qatar and Etihad from wealthy Gulf states. Last year it did not make the top 20 airlines for business class services, which it had built its reputation on in the 1980s, according to worldwide rankings by consultancy Skytrax. Since 2011, its highest position in the world’s top 100 airlines rankings has been 17th. The last time it won the consultancy’s World Best Airline award was 2006. Recommended FT Magazine Jancis Robinson Jancis Robinson on the best and worst airline wine lists Mr Burnside said: “I don’t see the advertising, the excellence, I don’t see the excitement in BA. The Middle Eastern airlines ooze quality. BA has ended up six, seven out of 10.” This is a far cry from the 1980s. David Kershaw, who helped devise BA’s advertising campaigns for 23 years, first at Saatchi & Saatchi then at rival M&C Saatchi, said the dynamism of 1980s chairman John King and chief executive Colin Marshall matched the UK’s economic confidence, boosted by the deregulation of London’s financial markets in 1986’s Big Bang. BA’s booming business class reflected and embodied this mood. “It wasn’t empty swagger,” said Mr Kershaw. “It was swagger with substance.” In 1987, on the first day BA was privatised, its shares gained 68 per cent. But this swagger veered into overconfidence and landed the airline in court. British business tycoon Sir Richard Branson, who built up Virgin Atlantic to rival BA in the 1980s, successfully sued the carrier for a “dirty tricks” campaign in 1991-92 against Virgin. BA gave in and paid £610,000 in what was at the time the largest uncontested libel settlement in Britain, hitting the airline’s reputation. Sir Richard said of the campaign: “It was brutal and they went to extraordinary lengths to put Virgin out of business . . . They were behaving like a national airline that nobody should have the right to compete with.” It was just after this time that the low-cost carriers, such as Ryanair and easyJet, started to squeeze BA in Europe. Sir Rod, who took over from Bob Ayling as chief executive in May 2000, said: “When I arrived, it was a break-even business: its long-haul business made about £300m a year and its short-haul lost about £300m a year.” Under Sir Rod, BA began to learn the lessons of the “no-frills carriers”. He said the company started to make better use of technology, with a user-friendly website, and refocused on the “simplicity” of being a full-service network airline, cutting loose random subsidiaries and repairing its balance sheet. By the time he stepped down as chief executive in September 2005, pre-tax profits stood at £620m and a cost-cutting programme, which he had inherited and overseen, was having a positive impact on the finances of the company. BA was one of only two airlines with supersonic Concorde planes This cost cutting has put the company on a stable financial footing today and ahead of some of its rivals in terms of profit margins. BA’s operating margin in 2017 was 13.7 per cent, whereas the Lufthansa Group’s was 10.3 per cent. “Compared to 10 years ago, BA is in a better place, it is much more profitable than it was and it is delivering that profitability in the face of a competitive market,” said Andrew Lobbenberg, analyst at HSBC. But critics say successive BA chief executives, including the current boss of BA’s parent group IAG Willie Walsh, went too far with the cuts. Mr Walsh was even dubbed “Slasher” for the enthusiasm with which he wielded the axe. Rory Boland, travel editor of consumer publication Which?, said BA “feels like it’s an airline almost in search of an identity these days”, declaring itself premium even as it pinched the pennies. Mr Cruz defends “the decisions BA rightly has taken over the last 20 years, guaranteeing that we now have the money to spend” on improvements. But the challenges BA faces, 100 years after predecessor airline Aircraft Transport & Travel first launched scheduled services, are great. Its ageing fleet, which has prompted criticism from some customers, will require expensive replacement over several years. The average age of BA’s 747 jumbo jets is 22 years and they will not be fully retired until 2024. The threat of a third runway at Heathrow, expected in the late 2020s, will dilute its dominance at London’s international hub and reduce its advantage over rivals. And laurels such as being one of only two airlines with supersonic Concorde planes, which could fly from London to New York in less than four hours, half the time of conventional jets, have long since been lost. BA ended its Concorde flights in 2003. Mr Kershaw thinks the carrier is an analogue for the state of Britain. The sense that the nation has lost its way as the clock ticks down to its EU departure has parallels with feelings towards the flag carrier, he said. “A huge part of Margaret Thatcher’s philosophy [when she was prime minister in the 1980s] was to make people feel great about being British. And feeling great about BA was intrinsically linked with that. “At the moment, there’s probably a confluence between people not feeling great about Britain the way they did and not feeling the same way about BA. Let’s hope both soar again.” How ‘dirty tricks’ campaign undermined BA BA’s “dirty tricks” campaign against Richard Branson’s Virgin Atlantic in 1991-92 was a big setback for the national flag carrier. The airline faced competition from Sir Richard’s airline after it won valuable slots at Heathrow, BA’s main base, and challenged it in business class travel. People working for BA accessed Virgin’s computers and rang up its passengers pretending to be Virgin, persuading them to switch airlines. BA even had people going through the bins at Heaven, a nightclub Virgin owned, looking for drug paraphernalia, according to Sir Richard’s account in his book. He sued BA and chairman John King, forcing the airline to settle in January 1993. In the largest uncontested libel settlement at that time, the company paid out £610,000 to Sir Richard and Virgin, as well as costs of £3m, acknowledging the campaign and apologising. Today the matter still rankles with some of those involved. David Burnside, BA’s former public affairs chief, said the company made “a tactical mistake of caving in on a defamation case which gave Richard Branson a Christmas present he didn’t deserve . . . There is no doubt it damaged the reputation of British Airways. Branson was a very capable publicist and really milked it for all he could.” Outside court in 1993, Sir Richard said: “We survived British Airways, but only just.” Josh Spero
Sunday 24 February 2019
BA losing it's reputation
BA celebrates 100 years with its reputation on the line UK flag carrier’s standing has fallen with passengers after cost cuts and mistakes Alex Cruz, BA's chief executive © FT montage; Bloomberg Share on Twitter (opens new window) Share on Facebook (opens new window) Share on LinkedIn (opens new window) Save Save to myFT Josh Spero, Transport Correspondent FEBRUARY 22, 2019 Print this page129 British Airways celebrates its centenary this year. But the glory days of the 1980s when it dubbed itself “the world’s favourite airline” have receded into history and its reputation is no longer flying high. Even the airline’s chief executive has no illusions about the company after 20 years of cuts and sporadic debacles, including a worldwide IT failure that grounded flights and an enormous data breach that affected nearly 400,000 customers. “There’s a lot of people . . . who have become disenchanted,” said the airline’s boss Alex Cruz, who took over as chief executive in April 2016. But over breakfast at the Langham hotel in central London, he is carefully optimistic. “Ever so slowly, we’re moving in the right direction, finally,” he said, as a £6.5bn investment programme, which includes new planes, lounges and seats with direct aisle access in its long-haul business class, bears fruit. “We understand what the past has been, we understand the net effect of really bad events like the power disruption or the hack attack . . . but this is not stopping us from continuing this investment programme.” It is not just the big disasters of last year’s hacking scandal or the worldwide computer failure of 2017 that have undermined the airline’s reputation. Ageing aircraft, the end of complimentary meals on some short-haul flights, the packing-in of seats in its long-haul business class and even the removal of fresh flowers from the bathrooms of first class, a decision that has since been reversed, have hit the airline’s standing. Some of BA’s leading former executives, including Sir Rod Eddington, who ran the airline between 2000 and 2005, and ex-head of public affairs David Burnside, have echoed Mr Cruz’s concerns over the company’s decline in the eyes of its passengers in interviews with the Financial Times. Sir Rod, who now lives in Australia, said he has “always resisted the temptation to pass judgment on what’s happened since I left, since I’m so far away”. But he does note that BA “has slipped quite substantially down the rankings” of top global airlines as it has been overtaken by carriers such as Middle Eastern groups Emirates, Qatar and Etihad from wealthy Gulf states. Last year it did not make the top 20 airlines for business class services, which it had built its reputation on in the 1980s, according to worldwide rankings by consultancy Skytrax. Since 2011, its highest position in the world’s top 100 airlines rankings has been 17th. The last time it won the consultancy’s World Best Airline award was 2006. Recommended FT Magazine Jancis Robinson Jancis Robinson on the best and worst airline wine lists Mr Burnside said: “I don’t see the advertising, the excellence, I don’t see the excitement in BA. The Middle Eastern airlines ooze quality. BA has ended up six, seven out of 10.” This is a far cry from the 1980s. David Kershaw, who helped devise BA’s advertising campaigns for 23 years, first at Saatchi & Saatchi then at rival M&C Saatchi, said the dynamism of 1980s chairman John King and chief executive Colin Marshall matched the UK’s economic confidence, boosted by the deregulation of London’s financial markets in 1986’s Big Bang. BA’s booming business class reflected and embodied this mood. “It wasn’t empty swagger,” said Mr Kershaw. “It was swagger with substance.” In 1987, on the first day BA was privatised, its shares gained 68 per cent. But this swagger veered into overconfidence and landed the airline in court. British business tycoon Sir Richard Branson, who built up Virgin Atlantic to rival BA in the 1980s, successfully sued the carrier for a “dirty tricks” campaign in 1991-92 against Virgin. BA gave in and paid £610,000 in what was at the time the largest uncontested libel settlement in Britain, hitting the airline’s reputation. Sir Richard said of the campaign: “It was brutal and they went to extraordinary lengths to put Virgin out of business . . . They were behaving like a national airline that nobody should have the right to compete with.” It was just after this time that the low-cost carriers, such as Ryanair and easyJet, started to squeeze BA in Europe. Sir Rod, who took over from Bob Ayling as chief executive in May 2000, said: “When I arrived, it was a break-even business: its long-haul business made about £300m a year and its short-haul lost about £300m a year.” Under Sir Rod, BA began to learn the lessons of the “no-frills carriers”. He said the company started to make better use of technology, with a user-friendly website, and refocused on the “simplicity” of being a full-service network airline, cutting loose random subsidiaries and repairing its balance sheet. By the time he stepped down as chief executive in September 2005, pre-tax profits stood at £620m and a cost-cutting programme, which he had inherited and overseen, was having a positive impact on the finances of the company. BA was one of only two airlines with supersonic Concorde planes This cost cutting has put the company on a stable financial footing today and ahead of some of its rivals in terms of profit margins. BA’s operating margin in 2017 was 13.7 per cent, whereas the Lufthansa Group’s was 10.3 per cent. “Compared to 10 years ago, BA is in a better place, it is much more profitable than it was and it is delivering that profitability in the face of a competitive market,” said Andrew Lobbenberg, analyst at HSBC. But critics say successive BA chief executives, including the current boss of BA’s parent group IAG Willie Walsh, went too far with the cuts. Mr Walsh was even dubbed “Slasher” for the enthusiasm with which he wielded the axe. Rory Boland, travel editor of consumer publication Which?, said BA “feels like it’s an airline almost in search of an identity these days”, declaring itself premium even as it pinched the pennies. Mr Cruz defends “the decisions BA rightly has taken over the last 20 years, guaranteeing that we now have the money to spend” on improvements. But the challenges BA faces, 100 years after predecessor airline Aircraft Transport & Travel first launched scheduled services, are great. Its ageing fleet, which has prompted criticism from some customers, will require expensive replacement over several years. The average age of BA’s 747 jumbo jets is 22 years and they will not be fully retired until 2024. The threat of a third runway at Heathrow, expected in the late 2020s, will dilute its dominance at London’s international hub and reduce its advantage over rivals. And laurels such as being one of only two airlines with supersonic Concorde planes, which could fly from London to New York in less than four hours, half the time of conventional jets, have long since been lost. BA ended its Concorde flights in 2003. Mr Kershaw thinks the carrier is an analogue for the state of Britain. The sense that the nation has lost its way as the clock ticks down to its EU departure has parallels with feelings towards the flag carrier, he said. “A huge part of Margaret Thatcher’s philosophy [when she was prime minister in the 1980s] was to make people feel great about being British. And feeling great about BA was intrinsically linked with that. “At the moment, there’s probably a confluence between people not feeling great about Britain the way they did and not feeling the same way about BA. Let’s hope both soar again.” How ‘dirty tricks’ campaign undermined BA BA’s “dirty tricks” campaign against Richard Branson’s Virgin Atlantic in 1991-92 was a big setback for the national flag carrier. The airline faced competition from Sir Richard’s airline after it won valuable slots at Heathrow, BA’s main base, and challenged it in business class travel. People working for BA accessed Virgin’s computers and rang up its passengers pretending to be Virgin, persuading them to switch airlines. BA even had people going through the bins at Heaven, a nightclub Virgin owned, looking for drug paraphernalia, according to Sir Richard’s account in his book. He sued BA and chairman John King, forcing the airline to settle in January 1993. In the largest uncontested libel settlement at that time, the company paid out £610,000 to Sir Richard and Virgin, as well as costs of £3m, acknowledging the campaign and apologising. Today the matter still rankles with some of those involved. David Burnside, BA’s former public affairs chief, said the company made “a tactical mistake of caving in on a defamation case which gave Richard Branson a Christmas present he didn’t deserve . . . There is no doubt it damaged the reputation of British Airways. Branson was a very capable publicist and really milked it for all he could.” Outside court in 1993, Sir Richard said: “We survived British Airways, but only just.” Josh Spero
Wednesday 20 February 2019
tut tut tut BA
British Airways passengers put up in brothel after flight cancellations in St. Lucia
Bradley Wint
Bradley Wint
Last updated Feb 19, 2019 3:07am AST
0
Photo: Bradley Wint/Gate Checked
Last week, British Airways left several passengers stranded in St. Lucia as a result of a flight cancellation, putting some of them up in what turned out to be a brothel.
On February 13, British Airways was scheduled to operate flight BA2159 from Gatwick, London (LGW) to Grenada (GND) with a stop in Vieux Fort, St. Lucia (UVF), and the return trip scheduled to operate as BA2158 (GND-UVF-LGW). The airline was able to successfully complete the leg from London to St. Lucia, touching down in Vieux Fort at 3:05 PM local time. However, the flight scheduled to continue on to Grenada was cancelled, resulting in BA2158 also being automatically cancelled as the same aircraft it used to service both flights.
The cancellations resulted in several passengers being stranded in St. Lucia.
While airline crew members and some passengers were able to find comfortable accommodations, the majority of passengers ended up having to spend the night sleeping on the airport floors as there was a shortage of hotel rooms across the island due to a cricket match taking place on the same day.
Multiple passengers reported being offered rooms at what turned out to be a brothel.
British Airways
✔
@British_Airways
· Feb 14, 2019
Replying to @lizdvorkin1
We understand this is frustrating and daunting Liz. The staff at the airport are trying to accommodate passengers. Were you trying to book accommodation yourself when you have seen there were no hotels available? Letty
liz dvorkin
@lizdvorkin1
And no, I have not tried to find a hotel myself, as staff have filled every possible room for as manynofbus- including sending a group to a Brothel. And I can't imagine for one second we will get a genuine form of compensation. Shame on you
2
9:29 AM - Feb 14, 2019
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British Airways
✔
@British_Airways
· Feb 14, 2019
Replying to @Rtanner82
We've accommodated as many passengers as possible, Ross. We understand the situation must be stressful. Please be assured a member of staff will be with you at the airport overnight. Lisa
Ross Tanner
@Rtanner82
There is no member of staff here!! You have sent us to brothels!! Shanty towns, and we were almost killed by a drunk driver returning to the airport!! This is outrageous!! You have elderly people sleeping on the terminal floor!!
5:58 AM - Feb 14, 2019
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Ross Tanner
@Rtanner82
· Feb 14, 2019
@BBCNews @British_Airways forcing their passengers, elderly. Children, women, to sleep on the terminal floor in St Lucia as they cancelled our flight home. No contact from an BA representatives @pn_neil_allen
Neil Allen
✔
@pn_neil_allen
31 people sleeping on floors at St Lucia airport. Some were offered accommodation, which turned out to be a brothel. There’s a couple here getting married in next few days. Three 72 year olds and a 71 year old on the floor. Others refused accommodation because not couples.
2
6:13 AM - Feb 14, 2019
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Paul Dommett
@PDommett
@British_Airways BA2158 cancelled and this is the accommodation finally provided.
how is this acceptable?
12:31 PM - Feb 14, 2019
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One passenger reported being greeted by semi-naked men and women at the proposed accommodations, leading him to realize that the airline had sent them to a brothel.
It appears a major lack of communication was to blame as the airline’s social media representatives indicated that the majority of passengers were comfortably accommodated. They also said that those who were not able to find a place to stay were allowed access to the airport’s business class lounge for the night.
Those stranded in the airport had a different story, saying that airline representatives at the airport did very little to ease the situation, offering no real information about food, water or flight status. They also seemed to be unaware that they were allowed access to the airport’s business class lounge.
The stranded passengers departed the next day on a replacement aircraft.
Bradley Wint
Bradley Wint
Last updated Feb 19, 2019 3:07am AST
0
Photo: Bradley Wint/Gate Checked
Last week, British Airways left several passengers stranded in St. Lucia as a result of a flight cancellation, putting some of them up in what turned out to be a brothel.
On February 13, British Airways was scheduled to operate flight BA2159 from Gatwick, London (LGW) to Grenada (GND) with a stop in Vieux Fort, St. Lucia (UVF), and the return trip scheduled to operate as BA2158 (GND-UVF-LGW). The airline was able to successfully complete the leg from London to St. Lucia, touching down in Vieux Fort at 3:05 PM local time. However, the flight scheduled to continue on to Grenada was cancelled, resulting in BA2158 also being automatically cancelled as the same aircraft it used to service both flights.
The cancellations resulted in several passengers being stranded in St. Lucia.
While airline crew members and some passengers were able to find comfortable accommodations, the majority of passengers ended up having to spend the night sleeping on the airport floors as there was a shortage of hotel rooms across the island due to a cricket match taking place on the same day.
Multiple passengers reported being offered rooms at what turned out to be a brothel.
British Airways
✔
@British_Airways
· Feb 14, 2019
Replying to @lizdvorkin1
We understand this is frustrating and daunting Liz. The staff at the airport are trying to accommodate passengers. Were you trying to book accommodation yourself when you have seen there were no hotels available? Letty
liz dvorkin
@lizdvorkin1
And no, I have not tried to find a hotel myself, as staff have filled every possible room for as manynofbus- including sending a group to a Brothel. And I can't imagine for one second we will get a genuine form of compensation. Shame on you
2
9:29 AM - Feb 14, 2019
Twitter Ads info and privacy
See liz dvorkin's other Tweets
British Airways
✔
@British_Airways
· Feb 14, 2019
Replying to @Rtanner82
We've accommodated as many passengers as possible, Ross. We understand the situation must be stressful. Please be assured a member of staff will be with you at the airport overnight. Lisa
Ross Tanner
@Rtanner82
There is no member of staff here!! You have sent us to brothels!! Shanty towns, and we were almost killed by a drunk driver returning to the airport!! This is outrageous!! You have elderly people sleeping on the terminal floor!!
5:58 AM - Feb 14, 2019
Twitter Ads info and privacy
See Ross Tanner's other Tweets
Ross Tanner
@Rtanner82
· Feb 14, 2019
@BBCNews @British_Airways forcing their passengers, elderly. Children, women, to sleep on the terminal floor in St Lucia as they cancelled our flight home. No contact from an BA representatives @pn_neil_allen
Neil Allen
✔
@pn_neil_allen
31 people sleeping on floors at St Lucia airport. Some were offered accommodation, which turned out to be a brothel. There’s a couple here getting married in next few days. Three 72 year olds and a 71 year old on the floor. Others refused accommodation because not couples.
2
6:13 AM - Feb 14, 2019
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See Neil Allen's other Tweets
View image on TwitterView image on TwitterView image on TwitterView image on Twitter
Paul Dommett
@PDommett
@British_Airways BA2158 cancelled and this is the accommodation finally provided.
how is this acceptable?
12:31 PM - Feb 14, 2019
See Paul Dommett's other Tweets
Twitter Ads info and privacy
One passenger reported being greeted by semi-naked men and women at the proposed accommodations, leading him to realize that the airline had sent them to a brothel.
It appears a major lack of communication was to blame as the airline’s social media representatives indicated that the majority of passengers were comfortably accommodated. They also said that those who were not able to find a place to stay were allowed access to the airport’s business class lounge for the night.
Those stranded in the airport had a different story, saying that airline representatives at the airport did very little to ease the situation, offering no real information about food, water or flight status. They also seemed to be unaware that they were allowed access to the airport’s business class lounge.
The stranded passengers departed the next day on a replacement aircraft.
Sunday 10 February 2019
KARMA BA, KARMA!!!!
British Airways suspends five pilots over racist emails including one from a captain who used the N word in message to ethnic minority colleague and another showing image of man having sex with a chicken
- British Airways suspends five pilots over evidence of offensive behaviour
- The claims of racism are being made by Manish Patel, 46, a Boeing 777 captain
- He claims he was sent emails featuring racist language by colleagues
- He quit as a British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) rep last year and filed an employment tribunal claim against the union
- Last night Balpa said his claim is ‘strenuously denied and will be robustly defended’
British Airways has suspended five of its pilots after The Mail on Sunday unearthed evidence of offensive behaviour including emails containing racist language and pornographic images.
The airline launched an immediate investigation after being informed that:
- A senior BA captain repeatedly used the ‘N word’ in email messages to an ethnic-minority colleague;
- Another pilot sent an image of a man having sexual intercourse with a chicken;
- Images of blacked-up performers from the BBC’s controversial Black And White Minstrel Show were shared between pilots.
The allegations centre on BA pilots who combine their flying duties with work as part-time trade union officials. Thirty BA pilots work up to 45 hours a month as representatives for the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa).
However, this newspaper has seen six messages sent by Captain Brendan O’Neal (above), a senior union official, to Captain Patel in which the ‘N-word’ is used. In one, sent in November 2012 as union reps organised a Christmas pub lunch, Captain O’Neal asked: ‘What food you want n****?’
One pilot said: ‘Being a union rep is a very alpha-male, testosterone-driven, locker-room-type role.’
The claims of racism are being made by Manish Patel, 46, a Boeing 777 captain who quit as a Balpa rep last year. He has filed an employment tribunal claim against the union in which he claims he was sent emails featuring racist language by colleagues.
He also alleges that he endured racist comments, including being called ‘P*** lad’ and ‘chai wallah’, as well as inappropriate jokes that he also worked as a taxi driver or ran a corner shop.
It is understood that he admits sending offensive emails himself, but says he did so only to fit in. Last night Balpa said his claim is ‘strenuously denied and will be robustly defended’.
The claims of racism are being made by Manish Patel, 46, a Boeing 777 captain who quit as a Balpa rep last year. He has filed an employment tribunal claim against the union in which he claims he was sent emails featuring racist language by colleagues
However, this newspaper has seen six messages sent by Captain Brendan O’Neal, a senior union official, to Captain Patel in which the ‘N-word’ is used.
In one, sent in November 2012 as union reps organised a Christmas pub lunch, Captain O’Neal asked: ‘What food you want n****?’
In another, from September 2012, he asked Captain Patel: ‘U on skype n****?’ In July 2012, Captain O’Neal, who trains other BA pilots, asks: ‘Why you selling the car n****?’
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Balpa last night said that Captain O’Neal had stepped down from his position as the union’s executive president ‘with immediate effect’.
Captain O’Neal said the allegations were ‘the subject of ongoing legal proceedings’, adding: ‘Whilst I would like to defend myself, in these circumstances it would be inappropriate to do so at this stage.’
Further emails reveal how Russell Williams, a BA training captain, sent a pornographic image of a man having sex with a chicken to five other union reps in March 2015 along with the caption: ‘It’s Friday. S*** some birds this weekend.’
![It is understood that Captains O’Neal and Williams are among the five pilots suspended by BA. The pilot who originally emailed the images was suspended from holding a union position for two years but allowed to return within five months [File photo]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/02/09/21/9604532-6686699-image-m-2_1549746620297.jpg)
It is understood that Captains O’Neal and Williams are among the five pilots suspended by BA. The pilot who originally emailed the images was suspended from holding a union position for two years but allowed to return within five months [File photo]
Captain Williams, who states on his LinkedIn page that he is also a magistrate, is now chairman of the British Airways Company Council (BACC), which negotiates with BA on behalf of Balpa.
Last night he said: ‘I accept these emails, while sent some time ago, were ill-judged and unprofessional.’
It is understood that Captains O’Neal and Williams are among the five pilots suspended by BA.
In June last year, two pictures of blacked-up actors from The Black And White Minstrel show – broadcast in the 1970s – were emailed among union officials. An accompanying caption read: ‘Ahh. The Black And White Minstrel Show. Wouldn’t be able to get away with that these days…’
The pilot who originally emailed the images was suspended from holding a union position for two years but allowed to return within five months.
Balpa said it accepts that ‘there have been past cases of inappropriate emails passing among a small number of Balpa representatives’, but insisted it was ‘committed to ensuring a good, modern-day work environment’.
A BA spokesman said: ‘We are appalled to learn of this behaviour which does not reflect the values of our company.’
Tuesday 5 February 2019
DIRTY BA PLANES
British Airways has trialled not cleaning toilets, bins and cabins on flights between London and Dublin
The airline ran its 'no clean' trial on busy flights from Heathrow to Dublin up to last Friday
BRITISH Airways has trialled not cleaning jet cabins between flights.
Passengers faced rubbish-filled seat pockets, dirty toilets and unemptied bins, sources said.
Airline bosses suggested: “Please offer the customer your apologies and explain the cabin has not been cleaned . . . to assist the punctuality of our operation.”
BA ran its “no clean” trial on busy flights from Heathrow to Dublin up to last Friday. Cabin crew were encouraged to collect as much rubbish as possible before landing.
But furious union officials insisted staff did not help replace cleaners.
They fear the trial will lead to crew having to clean the aircraft.
They also believe the move “weakens security” as a trawl by cleaners through the cabin is an extra safety sweep.
One said: “Cleaners find all sorts of things.”
In 2017, The Sun told how BA bosses let planes take off with just a “light clean” and toilet waste tanks unemptied.
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